Ancient Forest Trapped Under Ice Emerges for the First Time in 1,000 Years

The forest used to be hidden under a glacier in Alaska, is now emerging

Researchers investigate ancient forest that is emerging from under an Alaskan glacier

Researchers say that, after spending more than 1,000 years hidden from view, an ancient forest that sits under Alaska's Mendenhall Glacier is now gradually emerging.

They say that, over the past 50 years, stumps and logs have been every once in a while popping from under the giant block of ice.

According to Live Science, scientists at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau have noticed that, over the past year, things have taken a turn for the worse. Thus, the number of emerging logs and stumps has considerably increased.

Judging by their diameter, the trees that made up this forest were either spruce or hemlock.

Specialists believe that, all things considered, the forest is stepping into the spotlight due to the fact that, thanks to climate change and global warming, the Mendenhall Glacier is melting away.

Thus, since 2005 until present day, this block of ice has been retreating at a rate of roughly 170 feet (52 meters) per year.